Villanova Basketball: 3 keys to Wildcats taking down Maryland Terrapins
By John Makuch
Maryland will be heading to No. 21 Villanova Basketball for a crucial nonconference matchup that follows two early season losses for both squads with big-time expectations. A Kevin Willard-coached team will be taking on the Villanova Wildcats in one of their most important matchups of the season, except this is not for the Seton Hall Pirates this is for the Maryland Terrapins.
Willard coached for 12 seasons at Seton Hall and gave the Wildcats a run for their money year in and year out, including a 2016 Big East Championship victory over them. However, the Terps and Willard have gotten off on the wrong foot in year two, with their last game being a 66-63 loss to UAB. They also lost 64-61 to Davidson, and have just not looked like the team that brought in all the talent it did since he came to town, but they should be able to put it together eventually.
For Maryland, this is a perfect chance for a “get right” game, but for Villanova, it is just as important for them. The Wildcats fell to instate rival UPenn 76-72, a loss that shocked the Big East and the nation as even with a win against Maryland, Villanova can find themselves outside the Top 25 after that.
Against the Quakers, they struggled on both ends of the floor and hung on for a time but they just could not find a way to get it done. Now, they return to home to take on a tough Power Conference opponent in the final Gavitt Games matchup, how can they get it done?